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(N 0 Model.)

G. s, CROSBY. KITE.

No. 487,471. Patented Dec. 6, 1892.

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- UNITED STATEs PATENT @rr rcn.

GEORGE S. CROSBY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

KITE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,471, dated December 6, 1892.

Application filed December 14, 1891. Serial No. 414,906. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. CROSBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Bufialo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a newand useful Improvementin Kites, of which the following is a specification.

/ This invention relates to the class of kites which are capable of being folded so that they can be conveniently shipped and compactly stored.

My invention has for its object to produce a light and cheap kite of this kind which is readily folded and unfolded.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective rear view of a cross-kite embodying my inprovenients, showing the kite unfolded. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the side portions of the kite released from the cross-stick preparatory to being folded. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the kite rolled up or folded. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the kite through the cross-stick. Fig. 5 is a perspective rear view, on an enlarged scale, of the lower portion of the kite.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

Arepresents the upright longitudinal stick, and B the cross-stick, of the kite, which are constructed of wood or other light material and connected at their point of intersection by a pivot or staple b. This staple permanently fastens the two sticks together, but is made sufficiently loose to permit the crossstick to be turned in line with the longitudinal stick in folding the kite.

C is the covering of the kite, which is preferably composed of linen or other cloth cutto the proper form and attached at its edges to a marginal frame of tape d, stretched around the ends of the frame-sticks. The tape d preferably consists of a single piece and is formed at its ends with loops 6. e, which embrace the lower end of the longitudinal stick A, the lower end of the latter being notched or bifurcated to form two projecting tenonsf, over which the end loops of the tape are respectively engaged, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5. The tape extends upwardly from the lower end of the longitudinal stick to the point or corner of one of the side portions of the covering, where it is doubled to form a side loop g. Thence it extends over the upper end of the longitudinal stick, which latter is provided with a notch g for confining the tape, thence downwardly to the point or corner of the opposite side portion of the covering, where it is doubled to form another side loop g, and thence to the'lower end of the longitudinal stick. The upper portion of the tape and the loops thereof at the lower end of the kite are preferably glued, pasted, or otherwise attached to the ends of the longitudinal stick. The central portion of the cover is glued or otherwise attached to the front side of said stick.

h arehooks or catches attached to the rear side of the cross-stick near its end and with whichthe side loops 9 of the covering engage,

thereby spreading the side portions of the covering and retaining the same in an unfolded position, as shown in Fig. 1. The inner portions of the loops g extend around the ends of the cross-stick, said ends being preferably formed with notches or recesses g which confine the loops upon the stick. The hooks or catches h are pivoted to the cross-stick, so that they can be turned inwardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, in which position they remain interlocked with the loops,or outwardly,as shown in Fig. 3, in which position they permitthe loops to be disengaged therefrom. The loops are made somewhat shorter than the distance between the ends of the cross-stick and the shanks or pivots of the hooks, so that upon passing the loops over the outwardly-turned hooks and giving thelatter a half-turn inwardly the loops are drawn over the shanks of the hooks, whereby the side portions of the kite-covering are stretched and the loops, by their tension, at the same time tend to hold the hooks in their inwardly-turned position.

The kite is readily folded by disconnecting the side loops from the hooks or catches on the cross-stick, turning the latter parallel with the longitudinal stick, and then winding or rolling the released side portions of the covering upon the sticks, as represented in Fig. 3.

.In constructing the kite the frame-sticks are first fastened together and the marginal tape dis then passed around the ends of the sticks with its flat sides parallel to the face of the kite. The covering is next cut to the proper form and pasted or glued to the fiat front side of the tape. Although I prefer to glue the covering to the tape,it may,obvioi1sly, be secured thereto by sewing or otherwise.

By employing a fiat band or tape as a support for the marginal edges of the covering, a com paratively-broad attaching-suface is obtained which is more desirable than the twine or cord heretofore employed for this purpose, the tape affording not only a larger attachingsurface, but permitting of a lighter construction than twine, as it does not require the edges of the covering to be folded or doubled over it, which is necessary in the use of twine in order to securely attach the edges of the covering thereto.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with the longitudinal stick and the crossstiek connected together to form the folding frame of a kite, of the covering secured to the longitudinal stick and having its side portions detachably connected with the cross-stick, whereby upon detaching the side portions from the cross-stick and folding the frame the covering can be compactly wound upon the folded frame, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the folding framesticks of the kite, of a covering attached at its central portion to the longitudinal stick of the kite and having its lateral portions detachably secured to the cross-stick of the kite, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, With the folding framesticks of the kite, of a covering applied to said sticks and provided with side loops and hooks or, catches arranged on the cross-stick of the kite, with which the side loops of the covering engage, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the folding framesticks of the kite, of the covering applied to said sticks and provided with side loops extending around the ends of the cross-stick, and pivoted hooks or catches arranged on the cross-stick and engaging with said side loops, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the kite-frame, of a covering provided on its rear side with a tape extending along the margin of the covering and having its outer edge arranged in line with the outer edge of the covering, whereby the latter is secured to the flat front face of the tape and the doubling back of the marginal portion of the covering is avoided, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 7th day of Decodiber, 1891.

GEORGE S. CROSBY.

Witnesses:

FRED. C. GEYER, J NO. J. BONNER. 

